Thrice Denied: 'Declinism' as a Recurrent Theme in British History in the Long Twentieth Century

How can experts help governments think?: inaugural lecture

“…Several forces are at work here. First, a particular view of modern British history that my colleague Jim Tomlinson, of the University of Glasgow, has labelled 'declinist' (Tomlinson, 2009). One popular myth about Britain is that it has been in secular and perhaps inevitable decline since about the time of the First World War, falling behind newer Great Powers (particularly the United States).…”

The International Context of Secularization in England: The End of Empire, Immigration, and the Decline of Christian National Identity, 1945–1970

“…183 The fear that Britain was in decline took root in the late 1950s, at the same time that the language of Christian Britain began to disappear. 184 It is probable that this general sense of decline generated concern about the religious health of the nation in ways that contributed to declining religious practice. This was part of a broader picture of declining confidence in Britain, what Peter Mandler has identified as a crisis of national character and identity.…”

The history of information technology

“…This idea receives its clearest examination by Hendry (1990). However this “declinist” tendency in British twentieth century historiography has itself been critiqued recently as a skewed perspective based on myths held during the period and the hangover of empire (Tomlinson, 2009, p. 227).…”